Money lessons from the book of Proverbs: Part 1: Kingdom principles for true financial stewardship

Part 1. Wealth breakers

He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not be rich. (Proverbs 21:17 NKJV)

The love for pleasure and the love for status will erode any chance of building substantial wealth. Wealth is gathered through hard work, only to be washed away by pursuit of pleasure and status. There are many things that are obstacles or hindrances in creating and attaining wealth. Fortunately these things are self inflicted and can be corrected with application of correct financial principles. Many people live their financial lives like a man gathering water with a leaking bucket. The sad thing is that he knows where to gather water, but because the bucket is leaking, he has nothing to show for his gathering effort. 

Manual For Fulfilling Your Purpose: Part 11(Final) - Leaving A Lasting Legacy

 Part 11 (Final) - Leaving a lasting legacy

And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (II Timothy 2:2 NKJV).

No success is complete without a successor. Every vision with eternal significance must go beyond the initial bearers. Every God-inspired purpose must extend to generations beyond the current. Paul in the Scripture above explains the method of exponential growth and progress of God's purposes. Paul passed the baton to Timothy, and Timothy was to pass it to faithful men who will also pass it on. God's vision of spreading the gospel to the nations was not to end with Paul. God's vision is progressive, generational and eternal. It is therefore imperative that we look beyond ourselves into the future and prepare accordingly.

Manual for fulfilling your purpose

Part 10 C : Fulfill God's purpose in your generation

Acts 13 v 36: Now when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep...'

David had a fair amount of ups and downs, highs and lows, through out his life. From slaying the great and gigantic Goliath, to slaying innocent Uriah. From writing many psalms of worship to adultery with Bathsheba. Yet Acts 13 v 36 sums up his life in this manner,  “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep..."

 David fulfilled God's purpose for his life. There are five things we can learn from David in his encounter with both Goliath and Uriah, that are vital for fulfilling ones purpose.

1. David was goal oriented

When everybody in Israel were terrified because of Goliath, David simply asked, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” (I Samuel 17:26 NKJV)

He was focusing on the prize, while everybody focused on the giant. The whole nation focused on the problem and were naturally depressed. But David focused on the prize and was energized, encouraged and enthusiastic. To fulfill God's purpose in this generation, we need to focus on the prize.